Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus and method of educating the fundamentals of numbers and/or mathematics. The apparatus is designed to replicate mathematical problems appearing on books and other media and includes a base having a front surface. This front surface includes a plurality of recesses, oriented in a column fashion. Each column represents the one's, ten's, and hundred's. The recesses receive numerical plates which are sized according to the specific column. An operator recess for receiving an operator plate is also provided to enable mathematical process to be performed by a user.